Fire extinguishing system



Aug. 14, 1951 A. MANHARTSBERGER 2,553,352

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1947 INVENTOR Awexr flmwmmsuseem W Q i A. MANHARTSBERGER 2,563,852

FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 14, 1951 Filed May 17, 1947 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE or to Specialties Development Corporation,

Belleville, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application Mayl'l, 1947, Serial No. 748,738

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tire extinguishing systems; and is particularly directed to distribution systems for fire extinguishing medium for use in aircraft and the like, and to control means for such systems.

In systems of the character indicated, as installed in multi-motored aircraft, the fire extinguishing medium is stored under pressure in a container or containers and provision is made for the remote operation of the control heads of the containers and for selectively directing the medium from the containers to one or more of the engine nacelles, as well as to Various other locations or fire hazards within the craft. Such systems may be either manually or automatically operated.

In manually operated systems, a control handle is provided on the dashboard or control panel or in some other convenient location readily accessible to the pilot or operator. The control handle generally has a pull cable attached thereto leading to the discharge head of the container or containers of the fire extinguishing medium for remote operation thereof. The extinguishing medium may be carbon dioxide, methylbromide, or any other suitable medium stored under pressure, which, when released, is directed to the point of use. In such systems, when the fire has been extinguished, it is necessary manually to reset the system for operation in the event of another fire at the same or some other point. As a result of the confusion under fire conditions, the system is not always reset.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention resides in the provision of control means for a system of the character indicated wherein, after each operation, the system is automatically reset and restored to its normal condition in readiness for subsequent operation.

Another object resides in the provision of a system wherein a single operation of the control for the system will automatically shut off the gasoline supply and oil supply to the engine on fire, effect propeller feathering and at the same time effect discharge of fire extinguishing medium to the engine on fire.

Another object resides in the provision of a system wherein a much shorter and lighter pull is required on the control cable than with conventional systems.

A still further object resides in the provision of a system of the character indicated employing control means which is simple to manufacture and install, is economical, reliable and efiicient in operation, and sufiiciently rugged to withstand the uses to which it is put when in service.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic View of the system of the present invention showing the control member for the system in side elevation and stop valve means in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the control member;

Figure 3 is an end view of the control member, locking from the left in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the actuatin means of the system;

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a retainer member employed in the control member.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the system includes a bank of cylinders or containers ID for storing fire extinguishing medium under pressure. Each of the containers is provided with a conventional discharge head l2 adapted to be actuated by a lever 14 attached to one end of a pull cable It which is provided at its other end with an operating handle 18 located in a readily accessible position,'preferably on the control panel of the craft. When the cable is pulled to the'left, as viewed in Figure 1, the levers M are rotated to open valves (not shown) in each of the discharge heads. When the valves are opened, the stored medium is released and discharged through a discharge conduit 2i]. The discharge conduit has stop valve means 22 therein, generally referred to as a direction valve. Several of these valves are provided in the system, and are operated selectively in the manner hereinafter described, the particular valve selected for operation being one for directing the fire extinguishing medium to the point of use associated with that valve and its discharge line. One direction valve and its operating means is shown herein for convenience of illustration. The stop valve means or direction valve comprises a valve member 24 and fluid pressure operable means therefor including a piston chamber 26, a piston 28 therein having a piston stem on which the valve member 24 is mounted. A spring 30 is provided normally to retain the stop valve member in its closed position to prevent the flow of the medium to discharge line 32 which leads to the point of use, which point of use may be one of the engine nacelles or other fire hazard.

A branch conduit 34 leads from the discharge conduit, in advance of the stop valve means, to the intake of a control member 36, whereby to provide a fluid flow connection between the discharge conduit and the control member. A conduit 36 leads from the outlet side of the control member 36 to the piston chamber 26 above the piston. The conduit is attached to the outlet nipple 39 by means of a coupling 4|. This conduit provides a fluid flow connection between the control member and the fluid pressure operable means for opening the stop valve.

The control member 36 has a recess at its inlet side for the reception of a plug 46, the outer portion of which provides an exteriorly threaded nipple 42 for the reception of a coupling 44 by means of which the branch conduit 34 is attached thereto. The inner portion of the plug 46 is recessed to provide a pilot valvechamber 46 for the accommodation of a pilot valve 48 and a spring 56 for normally retaining the pilot valve on its seat 52. The nipple 42 has a central bore communicating with the pilot valve chamber 46. When the valves of the discharge heads I2 of the containers are opened, fluid medium under pressure passes by way of the branch conduit 34 through the bore in the nipple 42 into the pilot valve chamber 46 and normally aids the spring 56 in retaining the pilot valve closed.

The control member 36 has a longitudinal bore 54 in alignment with the pilot valve chamber, which bore accommodates an actuating rod 56, which may be in two sections, one section having an enlarged integral concentric shoulder 58 adapted for sliding movement in an enlargement 60 of the bore 54. A spring 62 is provided in the enlarged bore 66 for engaging the shoulder 58 and normally retaining the actuating rod in its outermost position with its outer end projecting slightly out of the body of the control member. The inner end of the actuating rod 56' is adapted to engage and unseat the pilot valve when operation of the system is initiated.

A lateral bore 64 is provided in the body of the control member and extends from the enlarged bore 60 to a piston cylinder 66. I

' The piston cylinder 66 accommodates a piston 68 having an inwardly projecting hub I9 providing four fingers I2, I4, 16 and I8 extending through apertures 86, 82, 84 and 86, respectively, formed in an end wall 88 of a cup-shaped retainer 90 (Figures and 6). This retainer is of one-piece construction and comprises an outer cylinder 92 and an inner cylinder 94 connected together by the end wall 68. The inner cylinder 94 serves as a guide for a stem 96 and is provided with opposed apertures 98 for the reception of locking balls I69 which are adapted to engage an undercut or reduced portion I02 formed in the stem 96 substantially midway of its ends. The undercut I92 is beveled or sloped at its ends as shown at I04, and the inner faces of the fingers I2, I4, I6 and I8 are likewise beveled or sloped, as shown at I66, whereby the locking balls I09 are guided to different positions radially in the apertures 96, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The stem 96 is screw-threaded into one end of sleeve or yoke I08, which sleeve extends through an apertured closure plug 1 ID for the end of the piston cylinder 66. The outer end of the sleeve I66 isbifurcated and is provided with a transverse bore for the reception of a pivot pin II2 which supports a slotted end of a control operating lever H4.

The control operating lever H4 is pivotally mounted on the housing of the control member by means of a pivot pin H6 which extends through a hole in the lever and holes in a pair of lugs II'I on the housing. The other end of the lever has a pair of plates I I8 secured thereto and projecting beyond the end thereof to provide a fork for the reception of the control pull cable I I9, which cable has a plurality of contact or stop members I rigidly secured thereto in predetermined spaced relation.

A nose I22 is provided on the lever II4 intermediate its ends, preferably adjacent its fulcrum and in alignment with the projecting end of the pilot valve actuating rod 56.

, As will be seen from Figure 4, the control pull cable H9 is also adapted to operate a fuel supply control lever I24, an oil supply control lever I26,

a lever I28 for eifecting feathering of the propeller, as well as the lever II4. The showing of the control pull cable in Figure 4 is merely illustrative, it being understood that in actual installations the cable passes over a series of pulleys I32 which may be located at various predetermined points instead of the four points illustrated, the cable leading to the location of each of the control levers mentioned.

As will be seen from Figure 2, a spring I34 is interposed between a flange I36 on the sleeve I68 and the plug HE. A spring I36 is seated within the piston 68 having one end engaging the end wall 86 of the retainer 99 and biasing the retainer to the left, as viewed in Figure 2, and a heavier spring I40 is interposed between the inner face of the end Wall 88 of the retainer and the closure plug I I0 and biases the retainer to the right, as viewed in Figure 2. A stop ring I42 having a flange I44 is held in the wall of the piston cylinder 66 by the closure plug III]. The flanged end of the ring I42 is adapted to be engaged by a flange I4I on the inner end of the outer cylinder 92 of the retainer 96, to limit the travel of the retainer to the right, as viewed in Figure 2, in the manner about to be described. The piston 68 has an annular groove formed in its periphery for the reception of a packing I46 in the form of a doughnut ring.

The system illustrated is manually operated, but it is to be understood that it may, if desired, be operated automatically by any of the Well known automatic control means for actuating flre alarms and flre extinguishing systems.

In operating the system, upon the outbreak of fire in one of the engine nacelles, or other protected area, the operator first pulls the handle I8 (Figure 1) connected to the pull cable I6, whereby to'actuate the discharge heads to discharge the fire extinguishing fluid pressure medium from the containers I0 through the discharge conduit 26. The medium thus discharged can not yet pass to any point of use because of the normally closed direction valves or stop valve means 22, and it can not enter the control member by way of conduit 34 because of the normally seated pilot valve 48. The operator then pulls the proper master control handle I36 (Figure 4) for the particular area or point of use where the fire has occurred. When the master control lever is pulled, it will in turn move the control pull cable II9, where upon the contact members I20 on that cable will engage and move the 1evers l24, I26 and I28 the required distance, indicated by the arrows A, to actuate their respective control devices, and, upon movement of the cable between the points indicated by the arrow B, the contact I2I will engage the operating control lever H4 and move it the required distance.

It will be seen from Figure 4 that the contact members I26 on the pull cable normally are just about in contact with the levers I24, I25 and I28, while the contact member I2I for the operating lever I I4 of the control member is slightly removed therefrom, so that upon the initial movemerit of the pull cable, when a pull is exerted on the handle I36, the contact members will engage the levers I24, I26 and I23 first and move the same to operate their respective devices. As the cable continues its movement, the contact members I28 will pass the levers I24, I 26 and I28 and the contact member I 2| will then engage the lever H4 and rotate it on its pivot H5.

The movement of the operating lever I It of the control member is very slight, and need be just sufiicient to overcome the force of the light springs 62 and I34. This movement of the lever H4 will unseat the pilot valve 43 when the nose I22 of the lever engages the actuating rod and will move it to the right, as viewed in Figure 2. This movement of the control operating lever H4 also Withdraws the sleeve I63 and the stem 9% slightly to the left, as viewed in Figure 2, placing the spring I34 under compression.

During the said movement of the stem 95, the locking balls I09 will be driven radially outward upon contacting the sloping surface its on the undercut portion I I32 of the stem, thereby permitting free movement of the stem to the left, as viewed in FigureZ. As the stem moves in the direction mentioned, the full diameter thereof contacts the surface of the balls and holds them in their outward position in the apertures 93 of the retainer. The balls are prevented from dropping out of place by the fingers 12 to 18, inclusive, of the piston hub.

When the parts have been moved in the manner just described, the fluid pressure medium passes from the discharge conduit 20 by way of branch conduit 34 to the pilot valve chamber d of the control device 36. The pilot valve 43 now being open, the fluid pressure medium will pass to the piston cylinder 68 by Way of bores t5 and 64, and act on the face of the piston 68, forcing the same to the left, as viewed in Figure 2, toward the retainer 90. Before the piston contacts the retainer, however, the sloping surfaces Ifiii of the fingers I2 to IS, inclusive, engage the locking balls, which are at this time in their outward position, and force the balls into engagement with the Walls of the apertures 98 in the inner cylinder of the retainer, whereby upon continued movement of the piston, under the pressure of the medium, the retainer also will be moved in the same direction, compressing the spring hi6. This movement of the piston and the retainer continues until interrupted upon engagement of the flanged end I4! of the retainer with the closure plug Ill]. Just before the retainer and piston reach the end of their combined stroke, the balls I00 reach the undercut portion I62 of the stem 96 and are thereby permitted to move into the undercut portion, to the position shown in Figure 2, whereby to unlock the connection between the piston and retainer. As the balls ride down the slope into the undercut portion of the stem, the

Instead of relying on the engagement of the retainer with the plug to interrupt the movement of the retainer and piston, the number of convolutions of the spring Mil can be such that they will engage each other and thereby serve a stop means. I

During the movement of the piston and retainer to the left, as just described, the fluid pressure medium passes from the piston cylinder out of the control member, through conduit 38 (Figure 1) to the cylinder of the stop or direction valve 22 and forces the piston therein downwardly, unseating the stop valve member 24, whereby the fluid pressure medium will enter the discharge line 32 and be conducted to the point of use.

When the fire extinguishing medium has been discharged to the point of use, the pressure on the face of the piston will be reduced and the force of the spring I45 will dominate and cause the retainer and piston together with the stem, which is locked thereto, to return to the right to their normal positions. When the flange I il on the retainer reaches the stop ring H32, its motion is arrested, but the piston continues its travel under the action of spring I328. The movement of the stem Will also carry the sleeve it to the right and rock the lever lid on its pivot H5, thereby withdrawing the nose I22 of the lever away from the actuating rod 5d of the pilot valve 48, permitting the rod to move under the action of its spring 52 away from the pilot valve 4%, thereby permitting the pilot valve to seat. The movement of the operating lever He will restore the operating pull cable I I9 to its normal position. On the return movement of the pull cable N9, the contact members I26 will pass the levers I26, I26 and I28 without restoring them to their normal positions. These levers can be restored manually after the extent'of the damage, if any, caused by the fire is determined.

The drop in pressure in the conduit system which permits the piston 58 to return to its normal position also permits the spring 39 to restore the stop valve member 24 to its seat.

With the parts thus restored to their respective normal positions, the system is ready for the next cycle of operation.

It will be understood that the control device 35, its operating means, the direction valve or stop valve means 22, and the branch line 33 to the stop valve opera-ting means, as well as the branch conduit 34, are each duplicated for each point of use; the other branch lines leading from points in the discharge conduit to their respective control members'in the same manner as branch line 34 herein shown and described. When fire breaks out at any protected area, and after the pull handle 18 is operated to open the discharge heads to release the medium, the control member for the direction or stop valve means for the particular area Where fire has broken out only is actuated, the other direction valves or stop valve means remaining in inoperative tion. If fire breaks out at more than one protested area, of course, the other control means for the other areas are operated by pulling on the operating pull cable for that area corresponding to the pull cable H9.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention provides a system which is efficient in operation; which is readily operated by a single short light pull on the master control lever whereby the gasoline supply and the oil supply to the engine on fire are shut off, the propeller of that engine properly feathered and fire extinguishing medium distributed to the desired point or points of use; and which is restored to normalcy after each operation and placed in readiness for the next operation, the restoration being efiected automatically and without relying on the operator to reset or restore the parts to their respective original positions.

It will be understood that in operating the system the pilot may first pull either the handle IE to release the medium, or the handle 138 to operate the control mechanism, or he may pull both handles simultaneously. It will also be understood that the contact members l2!) may be positioned as to effect the restoration of the levers I24, I26 and i28 to their normal positions, upon movement of the cable H9 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 4 between the points indicated by the arrows A.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having an inlet and an outlet and a piston cylinder in communication therewith; a pilot valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said cylinder adapted to be moved in one direction solely by the fluid pressure medium; piston return means in said cylinder adapted to be conditioned upon movement of the piston in the said one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston cylinder, and operable to move the piston in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the cylinder; a lever pivotally mounted on the body member normally disconnected from the piston; and adapted, upon movement in one direction, to open the pilot valve; and means for operatively connecting the lever to said piston and piston return means for movement therewith during the return movement thereof. whereby upon the return stroke of said piston and piston return means the lever will be returned to its original position and the pilot valve will be permitted to close.

2. A'control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston cylinder and an inlet and outlet in communication with the cylinder; a pilot valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; piston return'means in said cylinder adapted to be conditioned upon the advance of ie piston in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston cylinder, and operable to return the piston in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the cylinder; means biasing the pilot valve to closed position; pilot valve operating means for opening said pilot valve; lever means for operating said pilot valve operating means; means normally disconnected from said lever means and said piston including a spring for efiecting return of said lever means to a position to permit the pilot valve to close under the influence of said biasing means; and means operable upon movement of the piston under the influence of pressure medium to load said spring and to lock said lever means with said lever returning means whereby upon the return stroke of the piston said lever means will be returned.

3. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston cylinder and an inlet and outlet in communication with the cylinder; a pilot valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; piston return means in said cylinder including retainer means and including spring means adapted to be conditioned by the piston upon its movement in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston cylinder, and operable upon movement of the piston in the opposite direction due to a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the cylinder to cause said spring means to return said retainer means; pilot valve operating means; a stern operatively connected to the pilot valve operating means; and locking means operable by said stem and said piston upon movement of the piston in said first mentioned direction to lock said stem and said retainer means to each other, whereby upon return of said retainer means the pilot valve operating means will disengage the pilot valve and permit the same to close.

4. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston chamber and an inlet and outlet in communication with the chamber; a pilot valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said chamber; a retainer adapted for reciprocal movement in the chamber and having an inner and an outer cylinder, the outer cylinder having stop means for limiting the movement of the retainer; a stem slidable within theinner cylinder and guided thereby; locking means operable in one position to lock the piston and retainer to each other, and in another position to lock the stem to the retainer; means in said chamber adapted to be conditioned upon movement of the piston in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston chamber, and operable to return the piston, retainer and stem in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the chamber; pilot valve closing means; pilot valve opening means; and means for operatively connecting the pilot valve opening means to said stem, whereby upon the return stroke of the piston the pilot valve opening means will be rendered ineffective and permit the pilot valve closing means to close the valve.

5. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston chamber and an inlet and outlet in communication with the chamber; a pilot valve biased toward closed position for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said chamber; a retainer adapted for reciprocal movementin the chamber and having an inner and an outer cylinder, the outer cylinder having stop meansfor limiting the movement of the retainer; a stem slidable within the inner cylinder and guided thereby; locking balls carried in apertures in the inner cylinder, movable into one position to lock the piston and retainer to each other, and into another position to lock the stem to the retainer; spring means in saidcylinder adapted to be conditioned upon movement of the piston in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston chamber, and operable to return the piston, retainer and stem in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the chamber; pilot valve opening means; a lever pivotally mounted on the body member, having a portion for engaging said valve opening means to effect opening of the pilot valve; and means for operatively connecting one end of the lever to said stem, whereby upon the return stroke of the piston the lever will be disengaged from the pilot valve opening means to permit the pilot valve to close.

6. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston chamber and an inlet and outlet in communication with the chamber; a pilot valve normally biased toward closed position, for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said chamber; a retainer adapted for reciprocal movement in the chamber and having an inner and an outer cylinder, the outer cylinder having stop means for limiting the movement of the retainer; a floating stem Within the inner cylinder and having a reduced diameter portion; locking balls carried by the inner cylinder and adapted to ride in said reduced portion of the stem, said balls being adapted to be moved out of said reduced portion into position to lock the piston and retainer to each other upon movement of the stem relative to the piston, and being adapted to be moved" into said reduced portion to lock the stem to the retainer upon movement of the piston relative to the stem; means in said cylinder adapted to be conditioned upon movement of the piston in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston chamber, and operable to return the piston, retainer and stem in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the chamber; pilot valve opening means; and means for operatively connecting the pilot valve opening means to the pilot valve and to said stem, whereby upon the return stroke of the piston the pilot valve will be permitted to close.

7. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston cylinder and an inlet and out let in communication with the cylinder; a pilot valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said cylinder including an element movable therewith; a stem normally disconnected from said element; means operable upon movement of the piston in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston cylinder to lock said stem to said element; piston return means in said cylinder adapted to be conditioned, upon said movement of the piston, for operation to move said element and said stem in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the me- 10 dium in the cylinder; pilot valve opening means; and means operatively connecting said pilot valve opening means to said stem, whereby upon operation of the piston return means the pilot valve will be permitted to close.

8. A control device for fluid pressure systems comprising a body member having a piston cylinder and an inlet and outlet in communication with the cylinder; a pilot valve for controlling the flow of fluid pressure medium through the inlet to the piston cylinder; a piston in said cylinder including an element moveable therewith; a stem normally disconnected from said element; means operable upon movement of the piston in one direction under the influence of the fluid pressure medium entering the piston cylinder to lock said stem to said element; spring means in said cylinder adapted to be placed under compression upon said movement of the piston and operable to move said element and said stem in the opposite direction upon a predetermined drop in the pressure of the medium in the cylinder; pilot valve opening means; and means operatively connecting said pilot valve opening means to said stem, whereby upon operation of said spring means the pilot valve will be permitted to close.

9. In a fire extinguishing system, the combination of a source of fire extinguishing medium under pressure having normally closed release means; a discharge conduit for conducting the medium from the source to a point of use; means for opening said release means; a direction valve in said conduit normally preventing the flow of the medium to the point of use after the opening of said release means; fluid actuated means for said valve; a control unit having a passage provided with an inlet in communication with said conduit in advance of said valve and provided with an outlet in communication with said fluid pressure actuated means; a normally closed valve in said passage between said inlet and outlet thereof for controlling the flow of fluid medium to said fluid actuated means; actuating means associated with said control unit including a movable element for unclosing said normally closed valve; a pull cable for operating said actuating means to effect unclosing of said last mentioned valve; fluid actuated means associated with said control unit having an inlet connected with said passage between said outlet of said passage and said normally closed valve in said passage; and means conditioned upon operation of said last mentioned fluid actuated means in response to the flow of fluid medium through said passage to effect movement of said actuating means into a position to permit reclosing of said valve in said passage upon a predetermined drop of the pressure of the medium in said passage.

ALBERT MANHARTSBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 266,484 Lanston Oct. 24, 1882 1,231,826 West July 3, 1917 2,149,670 Fetterly Mar. 7, 1939 2,368,212 Grant, Jr. Jan. 30, 1945 

